Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-05-18
THE ONLY STEP.

The Gentiles Of Utah ought 10y this
time to tire OF experiments and devote
themselves to securing something from
Congress other than measures which
only demonstrate how the desired end
cannot be accomplished. No halfway
measure will result in anything Moth
ing less than Legislative Commission
or the direct removal of the represent
atives Of the enemies OF a Repub-
lican form OF government by appointive
power, as provided in the Tucker bill
before the Edmunds emasculation, will
prove even "a step in the right direc-
ton" There is but one step in the right
direction. 1t is a short one, easily taken,
and will reach across the line of
political division established by the
disloyal majority, and beyond which the
United States Congress has never yet
had the courage TO pass. All legislation
which does not exceed this limit is worse
than fruitless. We sincerely believe it
would have been better if our loval rep
rssentatives at Washington at the last
session had, when the Conference Com
mittee reported, advised all of the Con-
gressmen who were friendly to the Utah
cause to vote against the bill. Their ac-
ceptance of it, even so reluctantly, indi-
Gated seemingly that they entertained
hope that something beneficial might
result from it, when they know in their
hearts, as did every intelligent resident
OF Utah, that no restriction oath which
could be devised would serve as a barrier
between the Mormon people and
the ballot box. Neither courtesy
nor policy demanded the accept
ance of so pitiful an offering,
and in our opinion it should have been
summarily rejected, so far as the loyal
people OF Utah were concerned. The only
hope for the redemption OF this priest-rid-
den Territory lies in Congress. There is no
possible chance for its being effected
through the ballot box. An oath
obligins me applicant for registration to
swear that he believed polygamy to be
the most pernicious institution on earth
or in hell, would be swallowed as
readily as the one formulated by the
Utah Commission, if it was necessary to
retain hierarchal supremacy in this
priestly domain. 1t can never be
accomplished by Gentle immigration
while the Territory remains under its
present political control. That class will
not come here in sufficient numbers to
overcome the present majority, while the
Mormon increase from abroad will stead
lily continue. Miss Field struck the key
note to the situation last evening, when
she urged the loyal people to submit
temporarily to disfranchisement for the
purpose of securing for themselves in
the future the rights of American citi-
zenship, when the voting privilege could
be exercised with the dignity and
and Importance conferred upon it in
other States and Territories not cursed
with Utah's moral and political pesti-
lence. 1t is high time that some prac-
teal measure should be decided upon, to
be pressed npon Congress until its adop-
tonis secured or the fact is developed that
our only source of relief is unavailable,
when we might as well abandon the con-
test in despair. 1t is useless expenditure
OF time, money and soul yearning, to
continue the struggle, only to be repaid
with mere expressions of sympathy
which are manifested in statutory com.
bination of words, which are as barren
of results, as is a Dead Sea apple of
wholesome nutrition. Let us ask for
what we need and accept nothing less. !
The DEMOCRAT has heretofore ex-
pressed the opinion that the next session
of Congress will prove the most favor
able opportunity for pressing the matter
that will be presented for many yoars to
come. The subject will be fresh upon
the minds of many returned members,
and much of the work already done can
be successfully utilized. The miser-
able failure of the present law
will be glaringly apparent, and the
the necessity for more direct and practi-
cal legislation forcibly manifested. Fail
ure to act with promptness, unity and
decision at the crisis will be suicidal to
the hopes of Utah's loyal people for many
long and weary years in the darksome
tuture